Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsAlphabet Inc Class A (GOOGL)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$1,008.79
-0.32%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $449.00B
GOOGL
Alphabet Inc Class A
$400.80
+0.71%
COMMUNICATION SERVICES · Cap: $4.82T
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Alphabet Inc Class A generates 48% more annual revenue ($422.50B vs $286.27B). GOOGL leads profitability with a 37.9% profit margin vs 3.0%. GOOGL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.57. GOOGL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 74/100 (B).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
GOOGL
Strong Buy74
out of 100
Grade: B
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-89.1%
Fair Value
$535.26
Current Price
$1008.79
$473.53 premium
Margin of Safety
+38.7%
Fair Value
$649.51
Current Price
$400.80
$248.71 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Every $100 of equity generates 30 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 45.5% YoY
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 39 in profit
Keeps 38 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 36.1%
Earnings expanding 82.0% YoY
Generating 10.1B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 11.7x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity. Revenue growth of 21.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : GOOGL
The strongest argument for GOOGL centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 37.9% and operating margin at 36.1%. Revenue growth of 21.8% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Profit Margin, Operating Margin, PEG Ratio. A P/E of 52.6x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : GOOGL
The primary concerns for GOOGL are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
GOOGL carries more volatility with a beta of 1.27 — expect wider price swings.
GOOGL is growing revenue faster at 21.8% — sustainability is the question.
GOOGL generates stronger free cash flow (10.1B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
GOOGL scores higher overall (74/100 vs 61/100), backed by strong 37.9% margins and 21.8% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Costco Wholesale Corp
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · DISCOUNT STORES · USA
Costco Wholesale Corporation (doing business as Costco Wholesale and also known simply as Costco) is an American multinational corporation which operates a chain of membership-only (needing a membership to shop there) big-box retail stores. As of 2020, Costco was the fifth largest retailer in the world, and the world's largest retailer of choice and prime beef, organic foods, rotisserie chicken, and wine as of 2016.
Visit Website →Alphabet Inc Class A
COMMUNICATION SERVICES · INTERNET CONTENT & INFORMATION · USA
Alphabet Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mountain View, California. It was created through a restructuring of Google on October 2, 2015, and became the parent company of Google and several former Google subsidiaries. The two co-founders of Google remained as controlling shareholders, board members, and employees at Alphabet. Alphabet is the world's fourth-largest technology company by revenue and one of the world's most valuable companies.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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